This morning the state Employment Security Department (ESD) gave its weekly report on unemployment insurance claims.

ESD reported a total of 22,322 initial claims for unemployment insurance during the week ending April 10. Of this total, 17,281 initial claims were filed under the regular state unemployment insurance program; 2,249 claims were under the federal pandemic unemployment assistance program, which covers self-employed persons, independent contractors and part-time workers; and 2,792 claims were filed under the federal pandemic unemployment compensation program, which adds 13 weeks to the maximum term of benefits.

The number of new claims for regular unemployment insurance is an increase of 5,041 from the number of claims filed during the preceding week. For the nation as a whole, in contrast, claims fell by 153,833. ESD notes:

The increase in initial claims was partly driven by claimants that have reached the end of their benefit year. For those that applied for unemployment early in the pandemic, they have reached the end of their 52-week benefit year and must reapply for unemployment to continue receiving benefits. … Increases in layoffs in the Health Care and Social Assistance; Manufacturing; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting sectors also contributed to the increase in regular initial claims last week.

The four-week moving average of regular initial claims is 12,997, up 1,396 from the preceding week. I estimate that the seasonally adjusted 4-week average of regular initial claims was 13,804,844 up from 12,836 (revised) the preceding week.

The number of initial claims under the two federal pandemic programs is an increase of 5 from the number filed during the preceding week.

ESD reports that continuing claims for unemployment insurance totaled 406,199 in the most recent week. This is a decrease of 3,705 from the number reported for the preceding week.

The ESD press release is here.